Packers visit with ex-Bengals tight end

Bengals tight ends Jermaine Gresham attempts to run past Sherrod Martin of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the third quarter at Paul Brown Stadium on November 2, 2014 in Cincinnati, Ohio.(Photo: Joe Robbins, Getty Images)

In the wake of Andrew Quarless' arrest earlier this month, the Green Bay Packers are bringing in former Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham for a visit, an NFL source confirmed Thursday evening.

Gresham, 27, caught 280 passes for 2,722 yards and 24 touchdowns, and made two Pro Bowl appearances in five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. He was expected to sign a lucrative long-term deal in free agency before being diagnosed with a herniated disc, which he underwent surgery for in March.

NFL Network was the first to report Gresham's visit.

Gresham visited earlier this week with the Arizona Cardinals, but left without a deal in place. He reportedly received a contract offer last month from the New Orleans Saints last month and some interest from the Oakland Raiders, who pursued him at the start of free agency.

The Packers' offense has lacked a playmaking tight end since Jermichael Finley sustained a season-ending neck injury against Cleveland on Oct. 20, 2013. He's yet to return since undergoing spinal fusion surgery in November 2013.

The Packers are thin at tight end. Quarless, who started 11 games last season, could be subject to a possible league discipline following a July 4 arrest in Miami Beach, Fla., after discharging a gun in public, according to an arrest report. He has a court date scheduled for Aug. 10.

The only other tight end on the Packers' roster who has caught an NFL pass is 2014 third-round pick Richard Rodgers. Sixth-round rookie Kennard Backman, second-year tight end Justin Perillo, and undrafted free agents Mitchell Henry and Harold Spears are the other four tight ends on the roster.

A five-year starter for the Bengals, Gresham had 62 catches for 460 yard and five touchdowns in 15 games last season. Packers tight ends combined for 51 catches for 551 yards and six touchdowns last season.

Green Bay has room to add a veteran with more than $15 million in salary cap room and a spot open on their 90-man roster.